A federal judge who last week struck down the US state of Indiana’s same-sex marriage ban has said he knows his decision will have seen public opposition but that judges must remain unfazed by public opinion.

US District Judge Richard Young last week struck down the state of Indiana’s same-sex marriage ban. A federal appeals court later issued a stay, putting Young’s ruling on hold.

He has now said that it is for the best that federal judges remain impartial, and only concern themselves with the cases they are considering.

Young told the Evansville Courier and Press that it is wise that federal judges remain “isolated from politics”.